Suspended, Indonesia Maju Scholarship Recipients Urge Government to Provide Certainty

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - The fate of hundreds of students receiving the Indonesia Maju Scholarship or BIM S1 Abroad for the fourth batch is in limbo. They are awaiting clarity from the government regarding their future in continuing to the universities promised by the government.

These aspirations were conveyed by the parents of students through a demonstration at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemendiktisainstek), Wednesday (19/2/2025). Dozens of parents came carrying banners and posters with demands addressed to the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Satryo Soemantri Brodjonegoro.

They urged the government to provide certainty because, up to now, there has been no clarity regarding the scholarships for their children, who are among the 350 students receiving BIM 4 to study at foreign universities. Meanwhile, their registration period is already in its final stage.

"Children will be very sad if the outcome is unclear about where this is heading. What is the point of our preparations over the past year if suddenly the outcome is unclear," said the Chairman of the BIM 4 Parents Forum, Ishandawi, at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology office, Jakarta, Wednesday (19/2/2025).

In the previous socialization, the BIM Degree Program as a continuation of BIM 4 preparation, was stated as an integrated part of BIM 4 Preparation. There are 99 of the world's best campuses according to the QS world ranking that can be chosen by students receiving BIM 4 preparation and students are required to choose and obtain a letter of acceptance from the university of their choice or called a Letter of Acceptance (LoA).

I have put aside SNBP. I have received BIM, and I want to fight for it.

The transition of leadership and changes in the structure of the ministry of education while the BIM 4 program was still ongoing made this program increasingly unclear. Parents and students are anxious that this program is at risk of being canceled and that they will fail to go abroad for their studies.

Moreover, there is a policy of large-scale government budget efficiency as the implementation of Presidential Instruction (Inpres) Number 1 of 2025 on Spending Efficiency in the implementation of the State Budget (APBN) and Regional Budget (APBD) for the year 2025.

In a joint working meeting with Commission X of the DPR, February 12, 2025, Minister Satryo stated that BIM is still running, but its funds are diverted using funds from the Education Fund Management Institute (LPDP). They hope that Satryo will clarify his statement.

They urged the government to immediately process BIM 4 considering that the LoA has been received and some have to be confirmed to the relevant universities. This cannot wait any longer. Confirmation of financing for the LoA that has been received, namely the Letter of Guarantee and Letter of Sponsorship) must be carried out immediately, considering the deadline for payment of the guarantee/base money to the university.

Yosua Abdi Tulus Kondang (18), a BIM 4 recipient who took part in the demonstration, stated that since November 2024, BIM recipients will no longer receive information on the continuation of their studies. Three universities majoring in Mechanical Engineering in Canada and the United States have asked him for certainty.

In addition, this student of SMA 26 Jakarta has also rejected the National Selection Based on Achievement quota that should have been his to enter a state university. He hopes that the government will immediately provide certainty.

"I have put aside SNBP. So my parents have told me since I was little that I don't have enough money to go to college. And you have to pursue a scholarship since elementary school. Now I have received BIM, and I want to fight for it," said Yosua.

Hendra Yu Konsa Kondang (48), the father, can only surrender and hope that the government will keep its promise. Because, he does not have enough money to continue his child's studies abroad even though his child has been accepted at three foreign universities.

"Well, our plan B is to fight on our own. We will pay for it ourselves with whatever we have, and we don't know where to find it from. Of course, this will be a burden on our parents," said Hendra.

In the two-hour audience, the parents of BIM 4 students were promised that the state would continue to finance their education through LPDP funds.

Minister Satryo, in a meeting with Commission X of the House of Representatives, also revealed that the budget for the BIM 4 program is divided into two authorities. The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology runs the distribution of scholarships while the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education runs the training.

"BIM 4 is indeed in the place of Mr. Mu'ti (Minister of Primary and Secondary Education) only training, we will provide their scholarships through LPDP funds. We have calculated and we ensure that it will be covered according to the number of participants," said Satryo.